Cut wire holder and mounting means therefor



June 1, 1965 G. L. DECACCIA 3,186,553

CUT WIRE HOLDER AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 18, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet l $210. wazw June 1, 1965 L. DECACClA CUT WIRE HOLDER ANDMOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed June 18, 1962 2 Shets-Sheet 2 eva egv 4ae'C' INVENTOR.

@ awazw .47'7'02/VE V United States Patent This invention relates to acut wire holder for use at production stations and assembly lines inmanufacturing plants where electrical harness assemblies and electricalproducts are assembled.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact and highlyefiicient cut wire holder in which lengths of cut wire of. differentsizes and lengths over a wide range may be grouped in such a manner thatan operator at a production station may have ready access to the cutwires for use in a given production or assembly operation.

It is a further object hereof to provide a cut wire holder unit such asdescribed whichincludes a plurality of tubular members that areconstructed to permit a plurality of cut wires to be positioned thereinin a novel manner and with the tubular members arranged in a compactgroup affording ready access thereto and the cut wires therein.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cut wire holderassembly of the character described in which the tubular wire holdersand a released skeleton basket constitute a unit wherein a pair of rowsof holders are detachably joined to the tray one above the other forcontaining a larger number of out wires over a wide range of lengths,sizes and types in positions such that the wires readily may be reachedby a production worker with a minimum of effort and movement of theworker, the tray being constructed so that a number of such trayscontaining the cut wire holders may be nested one upon the other forpositioning upon different types of supports.

It is another object of this invention to provide in wire holder unitssuch as described, tubular wire contacting members which may be arrangedin pairs in such a manner that the cut wires when bent to U-shape, mayhave the leg portions disposed in the joined members and the bightportion exposed so that bent wire units readily may be removed. 7

It is another object hereof to provide a cut wire holder of thecharacter described which is particularly constructed to be used inconnection with a tray supporting frame of the type disclosed in mypatent application entitled Parts Container and Mounting Means Therefor,Serial No. 203,347, filed June 18, 1962, as well as in connection with aframe structure of the type shown in my patent application entitledProduction Station Unit, Serial No. 203,346, filed June 18, 1962.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafterdescribed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and thenovel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cut wire holder unit embodying thepresent invention as it would appear when ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2 onan enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the cut wire supporting tubes;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on theline 6-6 of FIG. 3;

basket.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of one of the trays forsupporting a group of cut wire containing tubes and the frame forsupporting the tray;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation of an assembly of trays asarranged for supporting groups of wire containing tubes; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

A cut wire holder unit embodying the present invention as shown in theaccompanying drawings, includes a plurality of tubular cut wire holders1 and an elongate skeleton basket 2 in which the tubular holders may bestacked longitudinally thereof in rows one above the other and with theholders paired as shown in FIG. 4 to receive the leg portions 3 of alength of wire that is bent to Ueshape to dispose the bight portions 4in outwardly spaced relation to the tubular holders. With thisarrangement the cut lengths of wire readily may be placed into andremoved from the tubular holders 1.

Each of the tubular holders 1, as here shown, is made in two tubularsections 5 and 6 telescopically joined. The section 5 is non-circularand substantially square in cross section, as at 7, for approximatelyhalf its length and merges with the cylindrical remainder of the section5. The walls of the non-circular section 7 converge slightly from theouter end of the holders and provide a wide mouth for the holder. Thesection 6 is cylindrical throughout and fits over the cylindrical end ofthe section 5. With this arrangement it is possible, as will be apparentwith reference to FIG. 8, to employ sections 6 of diiferent length, toaccommodate wire of different lengts, it being noted in FIG. 8 that thetwo lower tubular wire holders are provided with sections 6 of greaterlength than the upper two wire holders there shown.

The substantially square portions 7 of the holders 1 permit of stackingof the holders 1 in abutting relation, as shown in FIG. 3, so that alarge number of holders may be nested in small compass withoutlikelihood of the turning thereofabout their axes in view of theabutting flat faces. Moreover, these square end portions provide widemouths of the holders 1, facilitating placement and removal of the cutwires.

Each elongate skeleton basket 2 is formed of lengths of suitable wirestock and includes, as here shown, three vertically spaced horizontalside wall members 10 on each side of the basket, joined to threesimilarly spaced horizontal end wall members 11 at each end of the Theside wall members 10 are joined by a plurality of upright members 12welded thereto. A bottom wall member 13 extends between the lowermostend wall members 11 and cooperates with the lowermost side wall members10 to form the bottom of the basket. In addition, each basket 2 isprovided at each end with a U-shaped member, the upright and upwardlydivergent legs 14 of which are welded to the end members 11, while thebight portion extends below the lowermost end member 11 to form a hookportion 15. As shown in FIG. 8, when the baskets 2 are mounted one uponthe other on a support 16, the hook portion 15 on the ends of thelowermost basket serve as supporting legs while the hook portions 15 onthe ends of the upper basket hook over upper end members 11 of the lowerbasket. As the legs 14 are upwardly divergent, the hook portions 15 onthe ends of the upper basket will nest, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, inthe mouths of the U-shaped members on the ends of the lower basket.

The skeleton construction of the basket 2 makes it possible to group aplurality of the tubular wire holders 1 therein in two horizontal rowswith the holders extending transversely of the basket between the sidewall members 10 and with the squared entrance ends 7 of the 3 holdersabutting one another and disposed substantially flush with one side wallof each basket. Each holder is disposed above another onev so that theholders are paired to receive the legs, 3 of the folded cut wires asindicated in FIG. 4.

Means are provided for detachably retaining the tubular wire holders inplace in the baskets 2 and for this purpose each holder is provided witha pair of book members 18 here shown as integral with the upper outeredge of the square end portion 7. A similar hook member 19 dependingfrom the outer lower edge of the end portion 7 is integral therewith.The, upper hook members 18 are hooked over the side wall members 10above the holders, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 8, whereas the lower hookmembers 19 are hooked over the side hook members 18 and 19 embrace thewall members 10 in such a manner that each entire holder is supported by'porting said tubular wire holders grouped in rows extendingsubstantially horizontally alongside eachother; said holders being open,at their. outer ends; said mounting means including a skeleton baskethaving wire members forming opposite sides thereof; said holders beingdisposed with each row extending-transversely of 'saidjopposite sides ofsaid basket and with the open ends of 'the'holders thereof between saidwire members; downwardly facing hook means on the upper side of the openend 'of each holder; upwardly facing hook means on the lower side ofWith reference toFIG; 6, it will be apparent that the holders may bequickly and easily hooked in place or removed therefrom by reason of theconstruction of the hook members 18 and 19. With reference to the hooks18, it is seen that the outer sides thereof are provided,

with flanges 20 forming a socket for a card 21, as indicated in FIG. 3,to designate the types and sizes of wires in each holder.

Aunit consisting of the frame 2 and a plurality of the wire holders 1mounted therein, may be more efliciently employed when mounted as shownin FIGS. 1,2 and 3, on a frame structure F which is of the sameconstruction as that shown in my application entitled Parts Containerand Mounting Means Therefor, hereinbefore noted. The frame structure Fis of skeleton form and consists of a series of V-shaped members 22which extend laterally from opposite sides of themain frame unitthatincludes an inverted U-shaped center member 23 having an up rightmember 24. disposed centrally of the legs thereof and of the frame Fas awhole. Pairs of tray engaging members 25 are extended transversely ofthe legs of the U-shaped member 23 and the upright member 24 forcooperation with the V-shaped members 22 to support the baskets 2. Thecenter member 24 is provided with a bearing 26 at its lower end so thatas shown in FIG 2, it may bemounted in a socket 27 of a mounting device28 whereby the frame P will be rotatably supported. The mounting device28 may be mounted on a part 28' of a production station frame unit shownin FIG. 1.

As a means of detachably positioning the baskets'2 with the tool holders1 therein as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 on the frame F, each basket isprovided with downwardly facing hooks 29 projecting from one sidethereof,

the hooks being formed as the down-turned ends of cross members 30welded to the legs 14 of the U-shaped end members. As shown in FIG. 2,the hooks 29 hook over the transverse member 25 of theframe so that thebottoms of a pair of the baskets 2 may be supported on each of the'V-shaped members extending on opposite sidesofthe center frame unit 23.FIG. 2. shows how each of the uppermost members 22 of the frame unitsupports a pair of the baskets 2 thereon, with the lowermost members 22arranged to support trays 32 for containing a number of parts to. .beused at *a production station. With the frame F supportingboth the cutwire holders and the parts containing trays, it will be apparent thatthe parts and wires will be conveniently positioned for use byproduction operators in harness assembly operations as well as in thewiring of electrical products.

While specific structural details have been shown and 'described, itshould be understood that changes and forming opposite sides thereof;said holders being disposed with each row'extending transversely of saidopposite sides of said basket and between a pair-of said wire' members;downwardly facing hook meanson the upper side of the open end of eachholder; upwardly facing hook means on the lower side of said ,open'endof each holder;

the same wire.

said hook meanson said upper and lower sides being .de tachablyengagedwith said wire members of saidbasket and supporting said holderswith said outerends thereof in line and disposed in outwardly spacedrelation to said one side of said basket; and the hook-means extendingbetween the holders ofadjacent rows being'engaged with 3. A unit forcontaining a plurality of cutwires for use in electrical wiringoperatio'ns;.comprising: a plurality of elongate tubular wire holders;mounting means sup-' porting said tubular wire holders grouped inrowsextending substantially horizontally alongsideeach other; said holdersbeing open at their outer: ends; said mounting means including anelongate skeleton wire, basket having spaced wire members on the sidesthereof; said holders being extended across said basket between saidwiremembers with said open ends thereof in alignment .along one side ofthe basket; hook members on upper and lower sides of said aligned openends of said holders detachably engaged with. said wire members; andwith saidhook members which extend betweensaid rowsbeing'in'interlocking relation; and said aligned endsbeing enlarged toprovide enlarged mouths for'insertionand removal of cutwire into saidholders. 7

References Cited by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,7159 1/21Hodges; 141-345 1,975,046 1 9/34 Larkin 211-74 2,880,262 3/59 Bell etal.- 248-27 2,881,947 4/59 Hancock 211-60 2,919,017 12/59 Weber 220 83,005,620 10/61 Trunnell 141334 3,023,908 1 3/62 Ramey 211-74 3,104,7781 9/63 Leonard 211-60 X 3,131,896 5/64 lngraham-u' 248--27 FRANK'L.ABBOTT, 'l rimary Examiner. CLAUDE A. LE koYmmmm er.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,186,553 June 1, 1965 Godfrey L. deCaccia It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 29, for "released" read related column 3, lines 16 to 19,strike out "hook members 18 and 19 embrace the wall members 10 in such amanner that each entire holder is supported by the wall members 10 overwhich the holders extend. The book members in spaced relation to membersof the" and insert instead wall members 10' over which the holdersextend. The hook members 18 and l 'effibrace the wall members 10 in sucha manner that each entire holder is supported by the hook members inspaced relation to members of the Signed and sealed this 22nd day ofMarch 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A UNIT FOR CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF CUT WIRES FOR USE IN ELECTRICALWIRING OPERATIONS, COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF ELONGATE TUBULAR WIREHOLDERS; MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING SAID TUBULAR WIRE HOLDERS GROUPED INROWS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER; SAIDHOLDERS BEING OPEN AT THEIR OUTER ENDS; SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING ASKELETON BASKET HAVING WIRE MEMBERS FORMING OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF; SAIDHOLDERS BEING DISPOSED WITH EACH ROW EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAIDOPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BASKET AND WITH THE OPEN ENDS OF THE HOLDERSTHEREOF BETWEEN SAID WIRE MEMBERS; DOWNWARDLY FACING HOOK MEANS ON THEUPPER SIDE OF THE OPEN END OF EACH HOLDER; UPWARDLY FACING HOOK MEANS ONTHE LOWER SIDE OF SAID OPEN END OF EACH HOLDER; AND SAID HOOK MEANS ONSAID UPPER AND LOWER SIDES BEING DETACHABLY ENGAGED WITH WIRE MEMBERSFOR HOLDING THE WIRE HOLDERS SO AS TO EXTEND INWARDLY OF SAID BASKET.